The live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake has made waves in the film industry, achieving a major global box office milestone within just days of its release. This highly-anticipated 2025 adaptation marks a significant chapter for DreamWorks as it is the first film from the studio to undergo the live-action transformation. With the original trilogy’s director, Dean DeBlois, at the helm again, the film has received praise from both critics and audiences for remaining true to its beloved predecessors.
Generating excitement from its premiere, the film opened with an impressive $84 million during its opening weekend, shattering records and outstripping the debuts of the original animated movies. As reported by The Numbers, the live-action adaptation has already surpassed $206 million at the global box office, with $93 million from domestic sales and $113 million internationally. This achievement places it among the top ten films of 2025 to reach this milestone.
Can The Live-Action How to Train Your Dragon Make Box Office Franchise History?
The Franchise’s Box-Office Record Holder Is How To Train Your Dragon 2
What’s particularly striking is the remake’s performance compared to the original animated trilogy during their releases. The live-action film’s domestic opening was nearly double that of its 2010 counterpart and now proudly holds the record for the best opening weekend in the franchise. However, while the adaptation has yet to hit its break-even point, with a budget of $150 million, projections suggest it may find profitability by the end of its second weekend.
How to Train Your Dragon Movies | Domestic Box Office Total | Global Box Office Total |
|---|---|---|
How to Train Your Dragon (2010) | $217,851,976 | $495,141,736 |
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) | $177,002,924 | $614,586,270 |
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) | $160,799,505 | $520,979,901 |
How to Train Your Dragon (2025) | $93,168,890 | $206,180,890 |
The forthcoming weeks hold promise for the live-action film, raising expectations that it may surpass the 2010 original as well as the 2019 installment. However, the question remains whether it can eclipse the second film, which currently stands as the franchise’s top earner with $614 million worldwide, particularly as it prepares to navigate a competitive summer box office landscape.
Our Take On How to Train Your Dragon‘s Global Milestone
Even The Competition Won’t Slow Down The Live-Action Remake
Despite the hurdles posed by new releases like 28 Years Later and Elio, which could impact box office performance, the positive reception will likely enable How to Train Your Dragon to sustain strong performance in its second weekend. Critics may have voiced mixed opinions on certain creative decisions, but it’s evident that audiences are embracing this new take. This adaptation stands as one of the biggest successes of 2025, and with a sequel confirmed for June 2027, anticipation is already building for what comes next.
As this incredible milestone unfolds, it highlights the franchise’s enduring popularity and the significant impact of the live-action depiction. Only time will reveal just how high this dragon can soar.